Beech 95-B55 accident near Thermal, California, July 1, 1985
On July 1, 1985 at about 2:55 am local time, a Beech 95-B55, registered N18387, was substantially damaged in an accident near Thermal, California (Thermal airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1985 · about 2:55 am local time
- Place
- Thermal, California · Thermal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-B55 · all 95-B55s on the register
- Registration
- N18387 · registry record · serial TC-2080
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE CONCLUSION OF A CROSS COUNTRY BUSINESS FLT, THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER 'EASING THE NOSEWHEEL DOWN ONTO THE RUNWAY' HE REACHED FOR THE FLAP LEVER BUT PUT HIS HAND 'ON THE GEAR LEVER INSTEAD.' AS HE 'PULLED THE LEVER OUT OF THE DETENT TRIPPING IT,' THE PLT SAID HE 'REALIZED WHAT (HE) WAS DOING AND LET IT GO' BEFORE MOVING THE LEVER TO THE UP POSITION. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR RETRACTED DURING THE LANDING ROLL EVEN THOUGH 'THE FUEL WEIGHT WAS NOT ON THE MAINS.' NO PART FAILURES OR GEAR SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS WERE NOTED DURING THE REPAIR OR FUNCTIONAL TESTING OF THE GEAR SYSTEM.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,991 hours in all; 680 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 3,628 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 669 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 30, 1984; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FUL Fullerton CA at 2:20 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from TRM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX85LA298.